Some FIU players say release requests denied

Some of Isiah Thomas' former basketball players at Florida International say they want to play elsewhere because of his firing and that the school is refusing to release them from their scholarships.

The team sent a letter Wednesday to FIU president Mark Rosenberg and other administrators, asking for help in getting those releases and for an explanation why the Basketball Hall of Fame player was fired.

FIU fired Thomas last week after he went 26-65 in three seasons, saying it wanted to go “in a different direction.” Thomas had two years remaining on his contract.

“We ask that under such circumstances with our mentor being fired you to give us the freedom of choice to ‘move in another direction,'” said the letter, which carried the signature “FIU men's basketball team” and was emailed to Rosenberg and others by DeJuan Wright, who led the Panthers in scoring this past season.